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Gear Guide

February 01, 2018

One of the most often asked questions is “How do I get started in foiling?” First, you need a foil and a board that will work in the conditions you intend to foil. Most people are starting with either a surfboard or a stand up paddleboard. Starting on a SUP is easier than a surfboard because you can start out with your feet in the proper position. Rear foot over the mast of the foil and the front foot about a shoulders width in front of the rear foot. The SUP is more stable and easier to control than the smaller, lighter surfboard. A SUP enables you to generate the speed needed to get the foil into flight. We are fans of both- but lean slightly toward the SUP when learning to foil.

Once you have a foil, you will need to decide what type of board best fits your needs. You will need to decide if you want to purchase a foil board or retrofit a board. If you are going to retrofit an existing board with a glassed in mount, you will need to install either a Tuttle box or a pedestal mount into your board. The two options both have their pros and cons. Although the Tuttle mount is stronger than the pedestal mount, it is more laborious to install and can be more difficult to assemble and disassemble. The Tuttle mount also requires a certain board thickness to install properly. This might influence your decision if you plan on getting into kiting or wake boarding. These sports commonly use the pedestal mount so they can accommodate smaller, thinner boards.

While retrofitting an existing board may be less expensive, the ideal investment would be to purchase a board that is specifically designed for foiling. This will be a larger investment up front but will pay off tenfold in the long run. A foil board takes the surface into account but is designed to fly above the water. The aerodynamic profile of a surfboard has never been given much thought. A surfboard glides across the water and paddle boards are designed to work on the surface of the water. A foil board flies through the air. We design our boards to fly like an airplane. Once you are flying, weight and drag become a huge factor. Foil boards are smaller and lighter than traditional boards. The volumetric proportions of our foil boards are different than traditional boards. The rocker and foil placement on the foil boards have been optimized to maximize their performance. Foil boards can take advantage of foot strap inserts, allowing you to take your flying to the next level. Convinced yet? Simply stated, a foil board will work much better than retrofitting an existing board. If you pair our foil to one of our foil boards, you will end up with one of, if not the best, performing combination on the market.